Mayor Sam Adams and Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith visited east Portland’s Academy for Architecture Construction and Engineering last month to learn more about the innovative public charter technical high school that draws from seven east county high schools — Parkrose, Reynolds, Centennial, Gresham, Barlow, Springwater Trail, and Sandy.

A wide-ranging conversation from construction industry representatives centered on why ACE’s industry partners are committed to the success of the design-build centric school and ways the mayor and Portland Public Schools can get more involved.